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Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in France 2024/2025

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in France. Below you will find 32 of the best tour operators and travel agencies in France offering in total 613 tours and holidays through-out France. Combined they have received 701 customer reviews and an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The top tour activities offered in France are: Boat tours, water sports and marine wildlife, Adventure and sport & Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history.

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32 Tour Operators in France with 701 Reviews

G Adventures

• Address G Adventures Ltd, 60 Bastwick Street, London, England
• Response Rate 90%
• Response Time 3 hours

• Best-in-Class Top 5% of companies
• Excellent Service Top 10% of companies
• Superior Service Top 15% of companies

Exodus Travels

• Address Grange Mills, Weir Road, London, England
• Response Rate 85%

Intrepid Travel

• Address 380 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Australia
• Response Time 1 hour

Insight Vacations

• Address 33 Kern Road, Toronto, Canada
• Response Rate 86%

Collette Tours

• Address 162 Middle Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA

• Address 30 N Gould St, Sheridan, WY, USA
• Response Rate 99%

• Response Rate 88%

So Provence, So Alps!

• Address 2 rue de Beausset , MARSEILLE, France
• Response Rate 82%
• Response Time 2 hours

Walkers' Britain

• Address 1B Osiers Road, London, England
• Response Rate 83%

World Expeditions

• Address 1B Osiers Road, Wandsworth, London, England

Go Go Tours - Privat Tours In Paris

• Address 20 Avenue Duquesne, Paris, France
• Response Rate 34%

• Address 22 Bis rue Emmanuel Philibert, Nice, France
• Response Rate 100%

Indus Travels

• Address 233, 11951 Hammersmith Way, Richmond, Canada
• Response Rate 97%

• Address Nelson House, 55-59 Victoria Rd, Farnborough, England
• Response Rate 96%

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inbound / outbound (travel)

• Thread starter anne-claire01
• Start date May 22, 2008

anne-claire01

Senior member.

• May 22, 2008

IL s'agit ici de Tours opérators qui sont, soit Inbound, soit Outbound. J'ai touvé 'en partance' pour Outband, mais je ne comprends pas !? Quelqu'un peut-il maider ? Merci  

Franglais1969

Bonsoir, Typiquement, outbound parle des avions ou trains qui vont quitter l'aéroport ou la gare. Inbound parle des avions/trains qui vont arriver. J'espère que cela vous aide.  

Lang-learner

Un "Inbound tour operator" d'un pays organise les voyages à destination du pays lui-même. Il est l'hôte et "fait visiter et découvrir" son pays pour les étrangers. Un "Outbound tour operator" d'un pays organise les voyages à destination de l'étranger. Il fait "visiter et découvrir" les pays étrangers à ses citoyens. Je ne pense pas qu'il y ait une traduction française ???  

• Jan 19, 2009

Bonjour, Je travaille dans le tourisme et un "inbound TO" est appelé "agence réceptrice" ou plus souvent "réceptif", et un "outbound TO" est une "agence émettrice".  

• Apr 8, 2012

Comment peut-on traduire inbound et outbound ​en français? (même contexte - vols) Est-ce que c'est les mêmes termes en français, ou pas?  

Moderando ma non troppo (French-English & CC Mod)

des vols en partance des vols à l'arrivée  

wildan1 said: des vols en partance des vols à l'arrivée Click to expand...

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Our incoming travel agency, founded in 1953, offers travel services to small and large groups in all french regions.

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We will be happy to adapt them to your own projects and to create with you customized programs that meet your expectations.

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Who better to organize your trip than a local who knows the city in-and-out? Here you’ll find a selection of travel agents who can guide you in the two official languages – and more – and show you what puts the “all” in Montréal.

Authentik Canada

Authentik Canada treats clients to typical outdoor Canadian activities where the discovery of local cultures is part of the experience. Summer activities include canoeing and whale watching while winter features snowmobiling, dog sledding and other adventures. Clients can take advantage of 1-day to 3-week excursions.

Categorie(s): Local travel agents

Website / Email Phone:   514 769-0101 / 11 877 769-0101

Concord Tours and Travel

Accredited inbound tour operator established in 1995 and headquartered in Montréal, the company offers various transport options, including buses, limousines, minibuses, and vans. Over 30 guides speaks fluent English, French, and Chinese. Services include organizing trips to Asia, hosting foreign tourists in Canada, bus travel in Canada and the USA, package tours, and integrated tourism services.

Categorie(s): Local travel agents, Travel wholesalers and destination management companies

Website  / Email Phone: 514 876-1680

Expedia is an Internet-based travel company present in 70 countries. With Canada and the United States as its main markets, Expedia is an online vehicle for booking scheduled and charter flights, car rentals, hotel reservations, vacation packages, activities at destination, cruises, and travel insurance.

Website Phone: 514 285-6959

Groupe Voyages Québec

Incoming tourism pioneer Groupe Voyages Québec (GVQ) builds dream vacations for European travellers wishing to discover the sights, sounds, taste, culture and lifestyle of Canada and the United States. From guided road trips to urban and rural getaways to unique adventures off the beaten path, GVQ offers a vast array of organized tours and custom vacation packages for groups and individual travellers. GVQ takes care of all the details, from itinerary creation to tour operation. What’s more, all packages include an experienced guide or chaperone to ensure a smooth, safe and enjoyable experience for all travellers.

Website  / Email Phone: 418 525-4585 / 1 800 463-1598

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The differences between outbound and inbound tour operator agents

By Blake Ng — 25 Mar 2018

distribution   inbound tour operator   inbound travel   outbound tour operator   outbound travel

Updated January 2023 – Are you a tour operator trying to find which option is best for you? Or alternatively, are you a tourism professional trying to set up your distribution system? Trying to make your mark and stand out in a highly competitive industry? Let’s start at the beginning to help you understand the types of travel agents available to partner with. 

The role of a tour operator is to brainstorm ideas and conduct research to design holiday packages for travelers. In essence, they curate and compile various travel elements into a package that people will find appealing — creating a tailored and individual experience based on the interests and needs of various travelers. Holiday packages usually combine accommodation, cuisine, sightseeing, and transport. 

Inbound vs. outbound travel

An inbound tourist is someone who visits a country but is not a resident of it. In outbound tourism, residents of a country visit another country. Does this sound like two sides of the same coin? That’s because it is.

Let’s look at an example:

Kevin, an Australian citizen, is traveling to Argentina for a holiday.

Kevin is an inbound tourist to Argentina. In contrast, Kevin is an outbound tourist from Australia. 

Depending on where Kevin chooses to organize his holiday packages will depend on if he makes use of inbound tourism or outbound tourism.

An inbound tour operator will sell to people soon to be arriving in their countries, whereas an outbound tour operator will sell to people before they arrive at their destination.

Inbound tour operator agents

An inbound tour operator, also known as a destination management company, is a locally-based business or individual that provides holiday planning. This includes itinerary planning and arrangement of payment for their overseas clients. 

Inbound tour operators deal with both individuals and groups of international travelers. They make arrangements that are specifically catered to international guests, ensuring their clients have a comfortable and enjoyable stay. 

An inbound operator can work with the convenience of being able to operate at the same location in which they are organizing the holiday packages. Compared to outbound tour operators, an inbound operator would better understand the local area and its culture. This is especially true when receiving any inquiries or questions about tour information from a potential client. Additionally, an inbound tour operator is usually encouraged to develop strategic partnerships with other local companies and tour and activity operators . Building these relationships is a lot easier due to geographical location. 

Inbound tour operators are locally based

The purpose of inbound tour operators is to promote the entire destination to potential visitors from their local viewpoint. The operational advantage of being locally based is having easy access to work with other companies to promote the location as a whole to interested overseas travelers. Additionally, inbound tour operators can offer a more personalized service to their customers by having direct contact with them in their chosen destinations.

Inbound tour operators often work with other travel agents and distribution partners

Tour packages are often created and promoted by inbound tour operators in partnership with other travel agent s and travel distribution channels . Inbound tour operators work under the assumption that travelers are often motivated by package deals and promotions, and take advantage of this when marketing their destination. This means it’s beneficial for inbound tour operators to create packages that include local tourism businesses such as hotels, transportation, and tours and activities. Following that, these same packages are promoted to segments of the target market that are most likely to visit the region in the near future.

Choose an inbound tour operator if:

Working with an inbound tour operator is a good idea if you want to increase your visibility in a chosen destination. This will be increasingly beneficial if your target market shows interest in package deals. 

Outbound tour operator agents

A typical outbound tour operator works with international tourists. In contrast to inbound tour operators, outbound tour operators take travelers overseas from their home country. They offer a variety of tour packages that enable tourists across borders to travel abroad easily.

Outbound tour operators contribute significantly to the destination country’s economic growth. The majority of outbound tour operators choose to focus on a specific destination. This may be a destination that is currently popular or a destination in which they have special expertise and distribution partners. 

Most outbound tour operators cater to international travelers. 

Outbound tour operators offer travelers the convenience of visiting another country of their choice through tour packages. When travelers book a tour with an outbound tour operator, they can get everything they need under one roof — simplifying the travel experience. 

A particular region of the world is often their specialty

Outbound tour operators have the benefit of being experts in the destinations they serve. European destinations are a very popular choice with outbound tour operators; however other destinations, such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, are growing in popularity. A successful outbound tour operator will often be very tuned-in to trends, one step ahead of the crowds, so they know which destinations to specialize in next. 

Choose an outbound tour operator if:

If your business strategy includes targeting international travelers, partnering with an outbound tour operator is likely to be a good fit. Additionally, an outbound tour operator will be a good fit if you understand overseas offerings and have the ability to promote them to domestic customers.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Just like running any form of travel company, there will always be some advantages and disadvantages. before working with either an inbound or outbound tour operator, here are a few pros and cons you should consider.

Inbound tour operators

As an inbound tour operator, you’ll have the advantage of convenience. This is due to being able to operate in the same location or home country as the tours you offer. This is extremely beneficial when receiving any inquiries or questions about the tours as you’d have a greater understanding of the local area and its culture compared to outbound tour operators. Furthermore, as an inbound tour operator, developing strategic partnerships and forming great relationships with other local companies and tour and activity operators will be a lot easier and is usually encouraged.

Another major advantage an inbound tour operator has is that most of the interactions with their customers will be direct. Meaning, it will allow them to offer a more personalized experience based on their customer’s needs.

Outbound tour operators

Just like the inbound operators, outbound tour operators deal with customers from their own countries. This makes designing and creating tour packages a whole lot simpler as they can customize the tours based on the customer’s interests. However, a disadvantage outbound tour operators have is not being based on the travel destination itself. This could create problems and can be more difficult to resolve any issues that may arise.

Fortunately, outbound tour operators have the flexibility to update their products and packages based on the latest travel trends and demands. As we all know, the travel industry is highly competitive and constantly evolving. Offering outbound tours gives you the freedom to adapt to changes in the travel and tourism market swiftly.

Which one should you choose?

The key difference between inbound and outbound tour operators comes down to whether they provide tours in their home country or abroad. You should consider both types of tour operator agents when developing your distribution strategy. Partnering with these two agents will maximize your reach to both international and domestic travelers.

Now, it’s time to think about ways to make your distribution and marketing channels more effective. You can identify your key partners via your research or by connecting with a tour wholesaler . By establishing partnerships with a large tour operator network , you can advance your business — both inbound and outbound. Read our previous blog if you are looking for tips and tricks for partnering with travel agencies or download our online distribution  ebook today.

In general, both types of tour operator agents play an important role in the overall success of your distribution strategy. By partnering with both of these agents, you’ll be able to maximize your reach to both international and domestic travelers.

When bookings start to come through, you’d want to ensure that you’re providing your customers with a simple booking journey. By utilizing an online booking software , you’re not only simplifying the customer’s booking journey, you’re streamlining your processes as well. This is due to advanced features that automate your processes that allow your customers to make a booking on the spot. These features include a real-time availability viewer, that allows your customers to book based on your exact availabilities. Payment gateway integrations that provide your customers with the convenience of secure online payments. And Automatic communication, which sends your customers confirmation and updates regarding their bookings.

To top this all off, you can easily manage your partnership with both outbound and inbound tour operators via an online tour operator marketplace like Rezdy Channel Manager . Rezdy’s marketplace broadens your reach to over 25,000 active resellers in the industry.

Using Rezdy Channel Manager is as simple as:

• Naming your price
• Setting your rates
• Letting resellers sell and promote your products

On top of that, you don’t have to worry about collecting payments and paying commissions as Rezdy automatically organizes payments for both parties. This reduces the need to chase your agents for payments.

Ready to capture more inbound and outbound bookings with Rezdy? Start a FREE 21-day trial or book a free demo today.

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How do Tour Operators Work?

To unlock the tourism industry's business and leisure travel potential, you must understand how tour operators work.

From package holidays to bespoke tours, tour operators make memorable holidays. Whether you're a domestic operator focusing on your country's destinations or an outbound operator designing trips abroad, this guide is for you.

The Role of Tour and Activity Providers

At the heart of the travel industry, tour operators like you, whether inbound or outbound, design travel packages that simplify things for tourists. This involves meticulous planning of land arrangements, accommodation, tours, and transport.

As a tour company, you may specialize in specific types of trips, such as leisure travel or business trips, creating packages that cater to your target market's preferences.

What are the different types of tour operators?

• Domestic Tour Operators : Focusing on the domestic tourism market, these operators provide travel packages within their home country.
• Outbound Tour Operators : These companies design holiday packages for travelers visiting other countries, often incorporating international destinations into their itineraries.
• Inbound Tour Operators : Inbound operators cater to tourists coming into their host country, providing local insights and experiences.
• Ground Tour Operators : Often known as ground operators, these firms handle local arrangements in the destination country, often working in collaboration with other tour operators.

How do tour operators work with accommodation and transport providers?

Tour operators play a pivotal role in crafting the perfect travel experience, and a big part of this involves working closely with accommodation and transport providers. Here's a glimpse at how this collaboration typically works:

Building Relationships with Accommodation Providers

• Negotiating Rates : Tour operators negotiate contracts with hotels and resorts to secure competitive rates. This often involves bulk booking or agreeing on fixed rates for a certain period.
• Customizing Guest Experiences : They work with these providers to tailor lodging experiences that align with the overall theme of the tour, whether it's luxury, adventure, or cultural immersion.
• Ensuring Quality and Standards : Regular inspections and feedback mechanisms are put in place to ensure that the accommodation meets the expectations and standards required for their clients.

Partnering with Transport Providers

• Seamless Logistics : Tour operators coordinate with various transport providers, including airlines, bus companies, and car rental services, to manage the logistics of getting travelers from one point to another.
• Group Deals and Scheduling : They often negotiate deals for group travel and ensure that transportation schedules align seamlessly with the overall tour itinerary.
• Quality and Safety Checks : Ensuring travelers' comfort and safety is paramount, so tour operators regularly check the quality of vehicles and the reliability of transport services.

Creating Cohesive Travel Packages

By integrating accommodation and transport seamlessly, tour operators create cohesive and hassle-free travel packages. This integration is crucial in providing a smooth and enjoyable experience for travelers, where every aspect of their journey is well-coordinated and managed.

Adapting to Client Needs

Tour operators remain flexible and responsive to their clients' needs, often customizing aspects of accommodation and transport to cater to specific preferences or requirements.

To summarize, negotiating strategically, ensuring quality, and meticulous planning are crucial to the relationship between tour operators, accommodation providers, and transport providers. In order to deliver great travel experiences that aren't just fun, they must be safe, comfortable, and just right to match discerning travelers' expectations.  

How do tour operators work with travel agents and OTAs?

Tour operators team up with travel agents and OTAs? It's like having the best of both worlds in the travel industry.

Here's the lowdown: travel agents are like sales gurus. They've got the skills to match your cool tour packages with travelers looking for their next adventure. It's all about personal touches and making travelers feel special.

Now, let's talk about OTAs – think big names like Expedia and Booking.com . These guys are your ticket to the global stage. They're not just about showing off your tours; they're about connecting you with travelers from all over, 24/7. Plus, with their smart marketing tools and the power of customer reviews (which, let's face it, are gold in our world), you're setting yourself up for some serious visibility and street cred.

Combining travel agents' personal selling charm with OTAs' global reach is how tour packages stand out in this competitive market.  

Talking about creating packages, how can you work with accommodation and transportation providers?

How to create inclusive tour packages?

As a tour provider, crafting appealing and inclusive tour packages, also known as package holidays or package tours, is key to attracting travelers.

These packages bundle services like flights, accommodations, and transportation for a hassle-free experience. Here’s how you can create comprehensive offers:

• Understand Your Travelers : Know who you’re designing for. Are they families, solo travelers, or adventure seekers? Tailoring your packages to fit their preferences is crucial.
• Forge Strong Relationships with Suppliers : Collaborate closely with accommodation and transportation providers. Strong partnerships can lead to better rates and unique offerings, making your packages more attractive.
• Quality Over Quantity : When choosing hotels and transportation options, prioritize quality. A well-selected hotel or comfortable transport experience can elevate your entire package.
• Flexibility is Key : Offer flexibility in your packages. Options for room upgrades, transport preferences, or even alternative activities can make your package more appealing to a diverse range of travelers.
• Highlight Unique Experiences : Include special experiences travelers can’t find elsewhere. Unique local tours or exclusive access to attractions can make your package stand out.
• Transparent Pricing : Ensure transparency in pricing. Hidden costs discourage travelers. Clear, upfront pricing builds trust and satisfaction.
• Feedback Loop : Regularly gather feedback from your customers and adjust your packages accordingly. Continuous improvement based on customer insights can significantly enhance your offerings.

By focusing on these areas, you can create inclusive tour packages that meet but exceed the expectations of your travelers, ensuring memorable and hassle-free trips.

How do tour operators pay suppliers?

For tour operators, establishing and maintaining a solid financial relationship with suppliers — including accommodation and transportation providers — is crucial for a smooth and successful business and tour operation itself. Here's a look at how these payments are typically managed:

Advance Payments and Deposits

Tour operators often make advance payments or deposits to secure services well ahead of tour dates. This is especially common with hotels and special activities that require early booking.

Credit Facilities and Post-Payment Agreements

In some cases, tour operators may have credit arrangements with suppliers, allowing them to pay after the service is delivered. This requires a high level of trust and a proven track record of reliable payments.

Bulk Payment Contracts

For regular or frequent services, operators might negotiate bulk payment contracts. Under these agreements, they pay a lump sum for a specified number of services or bookings over a period, often at a discounted rate.

Net Rate Agreements

Suppliers may offer net rates to tour operators, which are discounted prices exclusive of commissions. The domestic tour operators then mark up these rates when selling to customers, and the difference forms their profit margin.

Direct Billing for Services

In some collaborations, suppliers might directly bill the tour operator for services rendered, usually after completion.

Electronic Payments and Wire Transfers

With the digitalization of financial transactions, most payments are now made electronically. This ensures quick, secure, and traceable transactions.

Managing Currencies and Exchange Rates

For international tours, operators must adeptly manage payments in different currencies, considering exchange rates and transaction fees.

Contingency Funds for Unforeseen Expenses

Operators often set aside contingency funds to cover unexpected costs or last-minute bookings, ensuring that the tour runs smoothly without financial hiccups.

Why is the booking process so important for selling tours?

The booking process is crucial in the tour industry for several key reasons:

• First Impression Matters : This initial interaction sets the tone for customer experience and expectations.
• Ease Equals Sales : A simple, user-friendly booking system encourages more purchases.
• Trust Building : A smooth process builds trust, showing customers that they’re dealing with a professional operator.
• Upselling Opportunities : During the booking, there’s a chance to offer additional services or upgrades, enhancing the experience and increasing revenue.
• Data for Personalization : The information collected can be used to tailor future offerings and improve service.
• Effective Communication : This stage is vital for conveying key tour information and ensuring customer understanding.
• Reputation Impact : A positive experience can lead to recommendations and positive reviews, while a negative one can harm the operator's reputation.
• Resource Management : Understanding booking trends helps manage tours and resources.

In short, the booking process isn't just about securing sales; it's about shaping the entire customer journey, from first impressions to post-tour feedback.

Tips for Operators

Invest in a good, easy-to-use, and cost-effective booking software solution. Granted, it may incur some fees on your part, but think of the heavy lifting it does for you.

It does more than take reservations and bookings. It saves you tons of time with manual tracking, guest follow-up, and ticket management. It also eases the customer journey from point one to post-tour feedback.

Booking software solutions like TicketingHub save you stress and ease your guests. It charges 3% only for successful bookings.

Trusted by Egypt Sound and Light Shows, The Immersive Gamebox, Secret Food Tours, Sipsmith Distillery , and a hundred folds more - this software solution is jam-packed with time-saving features in an easy-interfaced navigation.

Whatever software solution you pick, aim for the solution that saves you time from needless complexities in design and usability - all while helping you stay profitable and leaving your guests satisfied right from the booking page.

Conclusion: Making Great Tours Happen

In wrapping up, it's clear that being a tour operator is about connecting the dots to create amazing travel experiences. Whether you're showing off the best spots in your own country or taking people on adventures abroad, the key is in the details – from picking great hotels to organizing smooth rides.

Your partnerships with local travel agencies, agents and OTAs are super important too. They help you reach more people and make sure your tours stand out. And when making tour packages, remember to listen to what travelers want and keep things flexible and interesting.

Don't forget, managing your money well, especially when paying for services, keeps everything running smoothly. And the booking process? That's your chance to make a great first impression and keep things hassle-free for your customers.

So, there you have it – mix in a bit of planning, a dash of good relationships, and a sprinkle of creativity, and you're on your way to creating trips that travelers will love. Happy touring!

FAQ Section

How important are tour operators.

Tour operators play a pivotal role in the tourism industry. They create and organize tour packages, catering to both business and leisure travelers. These packages simplify travel arrangements, offering hassle-free travel.

Tour operators are the key architects of memorable trips, ensuring travelers can explore various destinations easily.

What is the life of a tour operator?

Tour operators plan meticulously and collaborate with various stakeholders. They work closely with outbound and inbound tour operators, accommodation and transport providers, and even travel agents and online travel agencies (OTAs).

Their goal is to create appealing package holidays, manage travel arrangements, and provide tourism products that meet their target market's preferences.

What are the strengths of tour operators?

Tour operators have several strengths, including the ability to create inclusive tour packages that simplify travel for tourists. They can specialize in various categories, such as business or leisure travel. They can also collaborate with distribution partners like travel agents and OTAs to reach a wider audience.

Tour operators leverage market data to sell directly to their target market, offering tourism products that cater to different preferences.

What's the difference between a tour operator and a travel agent?

Tour operators and travel agents serve different roles in the travel industry. Tour operators design and create tour packages, manage travel logistics, and provide tourism products.

Travel agents, on the other hand, act as intermediaries between travelers and tour operators or suppliers. They assist customers in choosing and booking the right travel options, including tours created by tour operators, but they don't create the tours themselves.

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Navigating Success: Essential Business Tips for Tour Business Owners

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Discover how tour operators create seamless travel experiences through great partnerships, flexible packages, and easy booking processes.

Why travellers should work with inbound tour operators

Thankfully, people globally are becoming more comfortable with the idea of travel . As countries open their borders, lower or remove their restrictions, people are more confident to book the overseas trips they have long missed out on. Although travel demand is steadily increasing , the disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic caused the industry is becoming more obvious. Keen travellers, who were once happy and capable of booking their own trips, are reluctant to plan and execute the travel experiences that they dreamed of in lockdown due to a variety of challenges they have not previously encountered. This blog looks at why now is the time for travellers to engage a true destination expert that they can access in the country i.e. an inbound tour operator, to plan their trip, and exactly what value they can add to travellers’ dream experiences.

The added complexities of travel 

Over the last six months, the tourism industry and travellers alike have excitedly seen many countries start to open their borders , but each one has specific entry requirements, which are also frequently changing. Keeping abreast of ever changing regulations, while also making sure travellers are prepared for them, has added another layer of complexity to the overall travel planning experience. 

While airlines are building up their flight routes again, it will take time for them to reach pre-pandemic levels. Hence, travellers have less options when it comes to connecting flights between two destinations as well as limited flight times to choose from. When you combine the additional entry requirements with the limited airline capacity and connections, figuring out the flights can be quite challenging and prone to errors.These are all areas where the expert knowledge of an Inbound Tour Operator becomes invaluable. Add to this the current inflated cost of flights , safeguarding the investment travellers are making in their holiday is plain old common sense.   

What is an Inbound Tour Operator?

An Inbound Tour Operator is a destination expert that specialises in their own country or a niche travel experience, such as cycle tours. This means they have developed a deep understanding of the destination or niche; its culture, people and environment. They focus on creating a clear picture of what the traveller wants out of their trip. By understanding the intangible value a traveller holds within the trip, the once in a lifetime experience that is unique to their needs, wants and desires. To this end many Inbound Tour Operators have spent the entirety of the pandemic learning more about their specific destination or niche and staying on top of any new experiences that have evolved. Making them primed  to craft a highly personalised itinerary for the traveller.  

Here are 5 great reasons why you should work with an Inbound Tour Operator when planning your next trip:

Up-to-date on travel regulations

Inbound Tour Operators are familiar with the entry requirements to their destination and stay up to date with any changes, such as the type or timing of COVID-19 tests, that are completed before the travellers fly. This means the travellers themselves don’t have to stress about watching the news and staying on top of any last-minute changes to pre-departure testing or flights. Instead, the traveller receives all of the information they need from the destination expert who has already found a solution for any changes that have arisen. 

Specialist knowledge and intimate supplier relationships

Two years is a long time to plan a dream trip, so travellers wanting to make sure they have the entire experience they have dreamed about for so long, is understandable. Many travellers are wanting to experience destinations, and the people there, in a way that reaches far beyond the usual tourist experiences. These bucket-list trips are often more complicated, with several stops throughout the destination to plan and it can be hard to find those off the beaten track activities, if they are trying to organise it by themselves.

By finding an Inbound Tour Operator who is an expert on the country, region or specific destination they want to visit, travellers are ensuring that they will enjoy a trip that meets or exceeds all of their expectations. This attention to detail will ensure the traveller will get the opportunity to experience every aspect of the destination they wish to. The travellers know the accommodation, transportation, and activities that the Inbound Tour Operator includes in the itinerary are all selected based on their criteria. These specialist tour operators build close relationships with carefully selected suppliers who provide the highest quality experiences. Most Inbound Tour Operators will only send their travellers to accommodation, transport and experiences they have personally visited. This vetting means that they are certain their travellers will be well looked after throughout their trip.

Helps travellers use their money wisely

Travellers have had limited travel opportunities in the last two years, so many have saved their  money while they have waited for travel to resume. Now that tourism is restarting, a trend has emerged where travellers are willing to spend more money on a trip due to their excitement to travel again, their need for security regarding their travel arrangements and an increase in savings. Meaning travellers are also wanting their travel experiences to reflect that extra cost, which can be difficult to achieve. Travellers planning and booking trips themselves will have to navigate through multiple travel sites trying to find the best deal that offers the total experience they are looking for.    By entrusting an Inbound Tour Operator with their next trip a traveller is considerably more likely  to get the most value from their money and time. This is because Inbound Tour Operators are experts; they know the best places to stay, they understand optimal trip cadence and they are adept at matching the activities they recommend to the travellers’ needs and interests. It is these intimate supplier relationships, together with their expert knowledge of the country they sell, that delivers that sought after trip of a lifetime. An additional bonus for the traveller is they can see who their money is going to, so they can ensure they are using local suppliers and supporting the destination’s community.

Save your time 

When planning any trip to a new destination, most diligent travellers spend hours doing in-depth research on flights, accommodation, transport and activities. They often spend time agonising over every choice to make sure they make the best decision to match the image of their holiday in their head. Sometimes, even when travellers take the most care when selecting their trip choices they are still left unsatisfied and disappointed.  This is where a destination expert can offer the most value, as they save their travellers valuable time by eliminating the travellers need to research and constantly check booking sites. They can plan, organise and book the itinerary for the traveller all while taking a fraction of the travellers’ time during the process. The traveller can also put their faith into the destination expert to make decisions that best suit what the traveller wants, so that their expectations are exceeded during their trip.

Will give you peace of mind

With the added uncertainty around booking, availability, schedule changes and cancellations in the current travel environment, it can be stressful for travellers as their departure date gets closer. If something does go wrong either before or during their trip, travellers may find it difficult to find the help and support they need from the airlines, accommodation or activity providers as they are under-staffed and extremely busy trying to manage a large workload. This can lead to additional stress as it may mean completely changing flights, finding new accommodation, choosing different activities, or even being left stuck in an unknown destination. 

Inbound tour operators can help resolve these problems as they have experience solving last-minute travel issues and have a deep understanding of the traveller’s needs, wants and expectations. What’s more, they are in the country. The traveller can put their full trust in the inbound tour operator, knowing that they will help at any time and with any travel situation. 

By choosing to work with an inbound tour operator to plan a trip, travellers will be less stressed from the initial planning stages all the way through to when they walk back into their home after their once in a lifetime experience. This means they can enjoy every part of the process, and start the trip with a positive and relaxed mindset, which in turn should make the experience even better.  After a tough two years in the travel industry inbound tour operators are excited to get back to doing what they love and sharing their passion for their chosen destination or niche. So they will be more than happy to listen to, create and book any travellers once in a lifetime trip. 

 Have we encouraged you to use an inbound tour operator for your next trip?

How does the travel industry actually work?

Who are the key players in the industry, where do they all fit together and how does the industry actually work?! There’s no doubt that the travel industry is a confusing space to wrap your head around so we’ve broken it down for you in this easy new resource.

Travel designers- meet the influencers you should work with.

Understand the role travel influencers play in the industry and why tour operators should be following, interacting and collaborating with them. Explore eight global travel influencers who are inspiring travellers daily.

Tourism news websites you can trust

In the tourism industry it can be hard to differentiate the reliable travel news sources from the not-so-trustworthy ones. In this blog we summarise the top travel news websites that tour operators, travel agencies and DMC’s should pay attention to.

How to set your team up for success when introducing new software

Making changes happen is hard. Especially when it is something that will create a significant impact on the way you work, like new software. We discover what change management is and how it can assist you, your leaders and your team in creating new processes that will make you more successful in the long run. Is it time for a change?

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Incoming Tour Operators

Aratours sa.

ARATOURS SA is a local supplier in Switzerland with its main fields: AlpTransfer, AlpExcursion & Switzerland Tour for private airport transfers & tours in Switzerland

e-domizil AG

e-domizil AG is the leading online vacation rental platform on the Swiss market. With no other Swiss provider will vacationers find more choice of accommodations for online booking.

Hans Meier Tourist Ltd. - Gray Line Zurich

One of the leading Swiss Tour Operators with its own fleet of deluxe motor coaches and as Gray Line Zurich part of the world’s leader in sightseeing tours.

Kuoni Tumlare

Kuoni GTS is the world’s leading group travel provider, partner with retail and wholesale travel agents to create itineraries, and provide land tour packages.

out & ABOUT – Switzerland Trekking

As a DMC we offer guided tours all over Switzerland. Experience the best walking, hiking, snowshoe and biking and get connected to nature, culture, tradition and history.

railtour suisse sa

The leading rail tour operator for Switzerland and Europe. Whether packaged or tailor-made tours, we offer a wide selection of travel services within Switzerland & Europe for FIT travellers and small groups.

SM Travel LTD

SMT-Swiss Motivation Travel, is a privately owned leading DMC company in Switzerland, specialized in handling incentive programs, congresses, conferences and business meetings.

USP Touristik AG

We are an Incoming-Agency, specialised in arranging group tours in Switzerland. We create travel programs by coach, rail, boat and cultural/theme or adventures journeys.

VALAIS Matterhorn Region

With a presence in China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, US & Canada, we are your expert for tailor-made itineraries in the Valais, with a focus on authentic local experiences.

Venez Discover Switzerland

Venez Discover Switzerland offers a wide selection of distinct private and small group day tours, rail journeys, and ground handling services across Switzerland.

Watch and Cow Sàrl

A Geneva-based DMC dedicated to high-end FIT clients operating luxurious, all-inclusive themed experiences for small groups of friends and family and professional organisations.

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ACT Travel - Incoming Italy

ACT Travel Incoming offers an extensive ground handling service all over Italy for groups and FIT’s, to suit all budgets, needs and tastes.

Personalized programmes arranged with a wide range of services : accommodation (from hostels to 5-star hotels), meals, transportation (bus, boat, train, flight, car, bike), sight-seeings & excursions, guided tours, museums & sites (reservation & tickets), attractions, study courses, educational and experiential visits.

All tours can be customized to hit different targets & interests : student & youth groups, adults groups, fashion & design, wine & food, movie & theatre, music (performing and non-performing groups), pilgrimages, meetings and incentives, special events.

Thematic tours can be combined with the visit of the classic Italian key-sites in the most popular destinations (Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Pompei & the Bay of Naples, Sicily, Turin and more).

FIT travellers can be assured to get the best value for price by choosing accommodation, private transfers and selected activities among our proposals for the main Italian cities.

WHAT WE DO FOR GROUPS

To discover Italian masterpieces by focusing on Art, History and Archeology throughout the Italian destinations.

Combining Culture & Italian food & wine with the possibility to discover the famous Italian productions and meet local producer.

Italian language in Florence and Rome, cooking classes in many regions, decoration of masks in Venice, Gladiator course in Rome.

A combination of classic tours with visit to Italian fashion/design productions & traditional handicraft.

Performing and non-performing groups; choirs, orchestras, bands, schools of dance; discover the Italian Opera.

Prayer groups, family reunions, youth & senior groups; accommodation available in religious properties.

Classics tours in combination with sports activities or sports events (golf, swimming, soccer, beach-volley, etc).

Locations and services for meetings, conferences, product launches, celebrations, openings, corporate events, and more.

The team of specialized travel professionals provides tailor made itineraries planned with great attention to details, according to target and goal of each client. If you would like us to plan a custom tour for your group , simply fill the form.

We will get back to you with a quotation as soon as we can.

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If Italy is a destination of interest to your clients, please feel free to send us your request for suggestions and offers. Cristina and Loredana will be glad to answer in a few days.

Incoming & Groups – ACT Travel Italy

e-mail [email protected]

ph. +39 06 86983783

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Tel. 06 86983783 / e-mail [email protected] ACT Travel S.r.l. – Piazza Dante, 7 – 03047 San Giorgio a Liri (FR) | C.F e P.IVA 11125531001 Capitale sociale Euro 10.000,00 | Registro Imprese Frosinone 22/03/2018 n°10380820968 | Num R.E.A.: FR-193920

Informazioni utili sulla Cambogia

Le informazioni utili sulla Cambogia iniziano dal clima, di tipo tropicale-monsonico. La stagione migliore per effettuare un viaggio in Cambogia, coincidente con il periodo maggiormente scelto dai viaggiatori per un viaggio, va da novembre a marzo . Nei mesi di luglio e agosto il tasso di umidità non è indifferente e potrebbe capitare di imbattersi in piogge anche insistenti ma il paesaggio ne beneficia alla grande: si possono infatti ammirare splendidi paesaggi dalla colorazione verde smeraldo.

FUSO ORARIO

+6 ore rispetto all’Italia (+5 ore quando in Italia vige l’ora legale).

La moneta usata nel Paese è il Riel Cambogiano . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 4,70 Riel.

Per contattare la Cambogia dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 00855 .

Necessario passaporto con validità residua di almeno sei mesi dalla data d’accesso nel Paese e visto di ingresso.

FILM e LIBRI

Per ammirare la Cambogia sullo schermo consigliamo di vedere Apocalypse Now , il capolavoro di Francis Ford Coppola del 1979, e Urla del Silenzio , il più importante film sul periodo tragico dei Khmer Rossi. In biblioteca, invece, consigliamo “ Un pellegrino ad Angkor ”, ambientato all’inizio del 1900 nei luoghi d’infanzia dell’autore, Pierre Loti.

I frutti tropicali non mancano e infatti durante un viaggio in Cambogia con un taglio “esperienziale” se ne consiglia sempre un gustoso assaggio! I Mongkut e il sao mao sono tra i più amati dai forestieri. Il Prahoc , la pasta di pesce fermentata, costituisce uno degli elementi base della cucina Khmer: i cuochi si sbizzarriscono spesso utilizzando radici, erbe e tuberi in abbinamento. L’immancabile riso , infine, presente su tutte le tavole cambogiane, è l’alimento principale, tant’è che in lingua Khmer “mangiare” si dice nyam bai – letteralmente “mangiare riso”.

Informazioni utili sul Marocco

Le informazioni utili sul Marocco iniziano dal clima.  Il periodo migliore per visitare il Marocco varia a seconda della zona : aprile-maggio e settembre-ottobre, sono ideali per la parte settentrionale. Le città imperiali dell’entroterra come Marrakech e Fés sono meglio visitabili tra marzo e aprile o tra ottobre e novembre.

La zona a sud, invece, è consigliabile durante l’inverno visto che il clima desertico nelle altre stagioni diventa impegnativo.

-1 ora rispetto  all’Italia  (-2 ore in Italia vige l’ora legale).

La moneta utilizzata nel Paese è il Dirham marocchino . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 10,90 Dirham.

Per contattare il Marocco dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 00212 più  il prefisso della località senza lo zero.

Necessario passaporto con validità residua di almeno sei mesi dalla data d’ingresso nel Paese. Viene consentito l’ingresso senza visto per soggiorni turistici di una durata massima di tre mesi.

Il Paese è stata ed è tutt’oggi una splendida location cinematografica in grado di accogliere attori sia di pellicole “Blockbuster”, come Troy e Sahara , sia di capolavori come  “ L ‘ uomo che sapeva troppo ” di Alfred Hitchcock e “ Lawrence d’Arabia ” di David Lean.

Tra i film sul Marocco, invece, ricordiamo “ Mille Mesi “, epica storia famigliare premiata a Cannes nel 2003.

In libreria vale la pena di leggere “ Marocco, romanzo ” dove Tahar Ben Jelloun racconta l’anima più autentica del Paese.

Da provare:

• la B’stilla , pasticcio dolce-salato di pasta a strati ripiena di piccione o pollo con mandorle e cannella;
• il Couscous , piatto centrale di ogni pasto;
• il Tajine , stufato cotto lentamente nella iconica pentola conica di terracotta. Quello con manzo con prugne e mandorle è uno dei migliori;
• il Tè alla menta , qui non servono spiegazioni!

Informazioni utili sull’Andalusia

La regione è visitabile in ogni periodo dell’anno . La primavera porta con sé un clima mite e molte festività, tra cui la Semana Santa (periodo di grande affollamento), la Feria de Abril e diverse fiere locali in altre città. Inizia in primavera anche la stagione delle corride.

L’estate, molto calda nelle regioni interne, è il momento migliore per rilassarsi al mare sul lunghissimo litorale. L’autunno è ideale per visitare le città e per fare escursioni in località alternative. L’inverno è la stagione migliore per gli appassionati di sci , infatti sui pendii della Sierra Nevada si può sciare!

In tutta la penisola iberica vige l’ora presente in Italia.

La moneta usata in Spagna è l’ Euro .

Per contattare la Spagna dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0034 .

Per entrare  in Spagna è necessario possedere il Passaporto o la carta d’identità valida per l’espatrio (entrambi in corso di validità).

Il deserto al centro della regione di Almerìa è stato utilizzato come set cinematografico per diverse pellicole western dirette da Sergio Leone.

In libreria ci sono due racconti di Chris Stewart, ex batterista dei Genesis (“ Una casa tra i limoni ” e “ Un pappagallo sull’albero del pepe “) e un bellissimo libro di Clara Sànchez, “ Il profumo delle foglie di limone “.

La cucina dell’Andalusia si divide tra quella costiera e quella dell’entroterra. La cucina della costa si basa soprattutto sul pesce e sui frutti di mare, il più noto tra i piatti e il pescaito frito (l pesce ha una fondamentale importanza nella dieta andalusa).

Nelle aree interne si servono piatti a base di stufato di cacciagione, maiale, agnello e pollo, nonché prosciutto e salsicce. Verdura insalate sono sublimi così come il piatto tipico dell’andalusia, il gazpacho , preparato con pomodori e peperoni.

Informazioni utili sull’Islanda

A meno che non si voglia ammirare l’aurora borale oppure visitare l’isola sotto la neve (in questi casi ovviamente si dovrebbe partire nei mesi invernali), la stagione migliore per visitare l’Islanda va da giugno a settembre .

In giugno e in settembre, però, alcune pista dell’entroterra potrebbero essere non ancora aperte o già chiuse.

Il mese migliore in assoluto è luglio , dove la notte è pressochè inesistente!

L’ora in Islanda è pari a quella del meridiano di Greenwich (GMT), quindi  -1 ora rispetto all’Italia.  -2 ore quando in Italia è in vigore l’ora legale.

La moneta usata in Islanda è la Corona islandese . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 134 corone .

Per contattare l’Islanda dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 00354 .

Per accedere al Paese sono necessari il passaporto o la carta d’identità valida per l’espatrio (per entrambi validità per tutto il periodo di permanenza).

Una delle produzioni cinematografiche più importanti d’Islanda è stata Thor , nel 2013. Altre scene in Batman Begins (ghiacciaio Vatnajökull), Prometheus (di Ridley Scott) e nel Trono di Spade .

Molto vasta la letteratura antica , con diverse saghe edite da Iperborea come “ Oddr l’Arciere “, “ Hrafnkell ” oppure “ Edda “, edito da Tea e una pietra miliare della letteratura medievale islandese e nordica.

Come opere contemporanee citiamo i romanzi polizieschi di Arnaldur Indridason e “ Gente Indipendente “, la storia di una sorta di Don Chisciotte scandinavo.

Per assaporare le peculiarità locali non si possono perdere i seguenti piatti:

• lo skyr , una sorta di crema di formaggio molto densa da gustare al naturale oppure con la frutta, sazia immediatamente;
• l’ hàkarl , una pinna di squalo fatta stagionare sotto terra per parecchi mesi. Il gusto è un pò strano (simile a quello di un formaggio molto forte) ma si scaccia rapidamente con un sorso di brennivìn ;
• l’ hardfiskur , pesce essiccato da mangiare con il burro, gli islandesi ne vanno pazzi;
• il pane nero, chiamato rùgbraud , che ricorda vagamente il gusto della liquirizia.

Informazioni utili sulla Thailandia

Le informazioni utili sulla Thailandia iniziano dal clima, caratterizzato da 3 Stagioni: quella delle piogge , da giugno a ottobre, quella fresca , da novembre a febbraio, e quella calda , da marzo a maggio. La stagione fresca è il periodo più gradevole , dove le giornate sono più luminose e limpide, e le temperature possono raggiungere anche i 30 gradi a metà giornata. Il periodo migliore per visitare la Thailandia è proprio questo, che, oltre a temperature più sopportabili e meno pioggia, offre la possibilità di ammirare bellissime cascate al colmo della loro portata e splendide piante in piena fioritura.

La Thailadia si trova 6 ore in avanti rispetto all’Italia (5 ore quando in Italia vige l’ora legale).

La moneta usata nel Paese è il Baht thailandese . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 37,80 Baht.

Per contattare la Thailandia dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0066 .

Necessario   il passaporto per l’ingresso nel Paese con validità residua di almeno sei mesi al momento dell’arrivo e almeno due pagine libere per l’apposizione del visto (non necessario per soggiorni turistici inferiori ai trenta giorni, in questo caso viene apposto un timbro all’arrivo). I viaggiatori sono obbligati per legge a portare sempre con sé il proprio passaporto originale.

Per ammirare la Thailandia sullo schermo consigliamo “ The Beach ” con Leonardo di Caprio, la divertente commedia “ Che pasticcio, Bridget Jones! “, ma soprattutto “Il Cacciatore ” di Michael Cimino, vincitore di ben 5 premi Oscar.

In biblioteca, invece, consigliamo “ La terra dei monsoni “, che descrive le lotte della zona nord-est del Paese contro la natura e la civiltà, e “Racconti thailandesi ” di Pira Sudham.

Ecco una selezione di piatti tipici della cucina thai:

• il Som Tum , insalata con papaya, arachidi e gamberetti. Si può mangiare anche con lo sticky rice , riso cotto al vapore usato come sostituto del pane;
• il Padthai , piatto a base di noodle cucinato con un mix di verdure, carne o pesce;
•  il Khao Pad , riso fritto, che si cucina friggendo il riso precotto al vapore insieme a verdure, carne o pesce;
• il Tom Kah Ka i, piatto agro-dolce preparato con erbe, limone, funghi, pollo e latte di cocco;
• il Tom Yum Kung , zuppa a base di gamberi dal sapore forte e salato che profuma di limone ed è preparata con erbe e frutti di mare.

Informazioni utili sul Portogallo

Le informazioni utili sul Portogallo iniziano dal clima,  influenzato dalle correnti marine oceaniche  che rendono miti le temperature sulla costa in inverno mentre le estati sono calde ma non afose. Nelle zone interne gli inverni sono più freddi (raramente le temperature scendono scendono sotto zero) e le estati sono molto calde.

Il  periodo ideale per visitare il Portogallo va da aprile ad ottobre, in particolar modo maggio-giugno e settembre-novembre sono i periodi più indicati perché le temperature sono piacevoli e non fa né troppo caldo né troppo freddo.

Il Portogallo è un’ora in anticipo rispetto all’Italia.

La moneta usata in Portogallo è l’ Euro .

Per contattare il Portogallo dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 00351 .

Per entrare nel Paese è necessario possedere il Passaporto o la carta d’identità valida per l’espatrio (entrambi in corso di validità).

Sullo schermo, prima di partire per un viaggio in Portogallo, consigliamo di vedere “ Lisbon Story “, dichiarazione d’amore alla città firmata Wim Wanders, “ Viaggio all’inizio del mondo “, di Manoel De Oliveira, e “ Capitani d’aprile “, che tratta della rivoluzione dei garofani del 1974.

In libreria consigliamo:

• “ Lo sguardo di Od “, selezionato per l’Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award nel 2016;
• “ Storia dell’assedio di Lisbona ” dell’indimenticabile  Jose Saramago ;
• “ Il libro dell’inquietudin e” di Fernando Pessoa, il più grande poeta portoghese.

Le seguenti informazioni utili sul Portogallo vi torneranno utili per assaporare alcune prelibatezze tipiche:

• i pastéis de nata , pasticcini di pasta sfoglia con crema;
• il bacalhau  (baccalà) alla griglia o alla brace oppure provate il  bacalhau a brás (baccalà fritto con patate fritte, uova strapazzate, prezzemolo e olive nere);
• la  caldeirada ,  zuppa di pesce  o  frutti di mare  preparata con pomodori, cipolle, peperoni e patate;
• la ginjinha,  liquore prodotto tramite l’infusione delle amarene.

Informazioni utili sulla Giordania

La primavera (marzo-maggio) è un periodo meraviglioso per visitare il Paese , il clima è ideale e la campagna è punteggiata di fiori selvatici.

L’altro periodo più adatto a visitare la Giordania è l ‘autunno (settembre-novembre) viste le temperature più fresche dopo le calure estive (le acque del Mar Morto e del Mar Rosso sono davvero gradevoli).

L’ora in Giordania è +1 rispetto  all’Italia .

La moneta utilizzata nel Paese è il Dinaro giordano . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 0,80 Dinari.

Per contattare la Giordania dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 00962.

Al momento dell’ingresso in Giordania si deve presentare il passaporto il quale deve avere una validità residua di almeno sei mesi al momento dell’ingresso nel Paese. Il visto (costo di 40 Dinari giordani) si può ottenere presso gli uffici diplomatico/consolari giordani presenti in Italia, direttamente all’aeroporto di arrivo (pagamento in valuta locale), presso le frontiere terrestri ad eccezione di quella di King Hussein Bridge/Allenby Bridge e all’arrivo in traghetto dall’Egitto.

Sono esenti dal pagamento del costo del visto i titolari del “Jordan Pass”.

LIBRI e FILM

Come informazioni utili sulla Giordania, è bene documentarsi su film e libri da guardare e leggere prima di partire.

In primo luogo non può mancare  “Lawrence d’Arabia”  di David Lean. Si possono scoprire i paesaggi del Wadi Rum, il castello di Azraq e Aqaba. E poi, molto amato, “ Indiana Jones e l’Ultima Crociata” , di Steven Spielberg nel quale Harrison Ford entra nel Khazneh durante la scena finale.

In libreria, per conoscere una cultura lontana dalla nostra, vale la pena leggere “ Due anni nel deserto del Ramm “, nel quale Flavia Tesio Romero, nata in Giordania dove ha vissuto per molti anni, si trova a stretto contatto con i beduini del deserto insieme al padre, un medico italiano.

Per gli amanti dei gialli, infine, segnaliamo che  Agatha Christie vi ha ambientato due romanzi:  “La Perla di gran prezzo” e “Appuntamento con la morte”.

• il ful madamas , purea di fave con peperoncino e olio d’oliva servita con pane arabo non lievitato, formaggio fresco, panna acida e zatar (timo e erbe aromatiche);
• il maqlubbeh , riso al vapore con cardamomo, uva sultanina e varie verdure;
• il mensaf , piatto beduino con agnello, riso, pinoli e yogurt.

Informazioni utili sulla Norvegia

Il periodo migliore per visitare il Paese va da maggio a settembre .

La tarda primavera è un ottimo periodo per la lunghezza delle giornate e il poco numero di visitatori nei siti di interesse turistico e negli hotel.

Durante l’estate c’è il fenomeno del sole di mezzanotte , specialmente a nord del Circolo Polare Artico. A Capo Nord (Nordkapp) il sole non tramonta mai dal 13 maggio al 29 luglio.

Se siete appassionati di sport invernali o volete assistere all’ aurora boreale , allora il vostro periodo migliore è l’inverno polare!

La Norvegia ha lo stesso fuso orario dell’Italia , pertanto non c’è differenza. L’ora legale è come in Italia.

La moneta usata in Norvegia è la Corona norvegese . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 9,50 corone .

Per contattare l’Islanda dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0047 .

La Norvegia non fa parte dell’UE ma dal 2001 è inclusa nei Paesi dell’area Schengen. Sono accettati il passaporto o la carta d’identità valida per l’espatrio (validità per tutto il periodo di permanenza nel Paese).

Delle produzioni cinematografiche norvegesi vale la pena citare “ Nord “, road movie tra le nevi della Norvegia e “ Kon-Tiki “, che ricalca la storia dell’esploratore norvegese Thor Heyerdahl nella spedizione nel 1947 attraverso l’Oceano Pacifico.

In libreria, consigliamo:

• “ Il libro del mare ” di Morten A. Strøksnes. edito da Iperborea;
• “ Fame “, del premio Nobel  Knut Hamsun :
• “ Il mondo di Sofia “,  romanzo filosofico adatto a tutti.
• l’ Aquavit , il distillato nazionale a base di patate e cumino è un assaggio imperdibile della cultura norvegese;
• la renna arrosto , ovviamente non per i vegetariani, è un piatto da non perdere;
• il salmone , una delle peculiarità gastronomiche del Nord;

Se volete cimentarvi in qualcosa di veramente diverso dalla nostra cucina, provate la lingua di merluzzo o la bistecca di balena !

Informazioni utili sulla Turchia

Il periodo migliore per visitare il Paese è quello primaverile (da aprile a giugno) e quello autunnale (da settembre a novembre).

Per le zone orientali della Turchia, invece, sono più indicati i mesi estivi , durante l’inverno alcune strade potrebbero essere bloccate dalla neve.

L’ora in Turchia è +1 rispetto  all’Italia in estate e +2 in inverno .

La moneta utilizzata in Turchia è la  Lira turca . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 6,50 Lire.

Per contattare la Turchia dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0090.

L’ingresso in Turchia per motivi turistici, senza visto, è consentito per un periodo massimo di 90 giorni.

Si può entrare nel Paese con solo la carta d’identità valida per l’espatrio, perfettamente integra e con una validità minima di 5 mesi.

Tra i film, non può mancare “ Il Bagno Turco – Hamam ” di Ferzan Özpetek, del 1997, dove un giovane italiano cambia vita a Istanbul, e “ Fango “, dove quattro amici turchi cercano di riappacificarsi con il passato nella Cipro divisa.

In libreria, per conoscere una cultura particolare come quella turca, vale la pena leggere “ Istanbul “, dove il premio Nobel Orhan Pamuk esamina il rapporto della famiglia con la città.

• il meze , vera esperienza gastronomica, comprende una selezione di antipasti generalmente a base di verdure ma potrebbero contenere anche del pesce;
• il kebap (carne grigliata) e le köfte (polpette), piatti nazionali dalle innumerevoli sfumature regionali;
• l’ ayran , una bevanda preparata con yogurt, acqua e sale che accompagna i kebap;
• il tè , o  çay in lingua turca, che va gustato con zollette di zucchero che sono utili a contrastare una lunga infusione.

Informazioni utili sul Vietnam

Ci sono diverse zone e le relative condizioni climatiche cambiano in base alla posizione geografica Non è facile individuare un periodo ideale per visitare il Paese ma generalmente  la scelta migliore è quella di partire in una stagione intermedia, da fine ottobre ad aprile , quando le precipitazioni sono ridotte, l’umidità non è oppressiva e le temperature sono abbastanza gradevoli in tutto il Paese.

+6 ore rispetto all’Italia (+5 ore quando in Italia vige l’ora legale)

La moneta usata nel Paese è il Dong Vietnamita . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 27.078 Dong. La monetA non è convertibile al di fuori del Paese.

Per contattare il Vietnam dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0084-24 per Hanoi e 0084-28 per Ho Chi Minh City.

Necessario passaporto con validità residua di almeno sei mesi dalla data d’ingresso nel Paese. Il visto non è necessario per soggiorni fino a 15 giorni e ingresso singolo.

Per ammirare il Vietnam sul grande schermo consigliamo di vedere Apocalypse Now , il capolavoro di Francis Ford Coppola del 1979, e  Platoon , di Olver Stone.

In biblioteca, invece, consigliamo “ Un americano tranquillo ”, ambientato durante il crollo dell’impero coloniale francese.

Ecco infine alcuni piatti da non perdere:

• il Bun cha , popolare cibo di strada fatto da fettine o polpette di maiale servite con noodles di riso, erbe aromatiche e verdure fresche, tutto accompagnato dalla salsa di pesce ( nuoc mam );
• il Pho bo , delizia del nord del Paese, è composto da una zuppa di noodles e manzo;
• il Banh xeo , una crèpe di farina di riso farcita di maiale, gamberetti, fagioli e germogli di soia.

Informazioni utili sull’Irlanda

Il periodo migliore per un viaggio in Irlanda va  da giugno a metà settembre , è il periodo più adatto (alta stagione) per visitare il Paese visto il clima molto gradevole.

Il tempo è per lo più bello anche nei periodi di Pasqua , fino a maggio (con un alternanza di sole e piogge) e da metà settembre a fine ottobre . In questo periodo, rispetto all’alta stagione, le tariffe diminuiscono e si trovano molti meno turisti in giro per il Paese.

Una delle informazioni utili sull’Irlanda più importante è la differenza oraria: il Paese si trova sul meridiano di Greenwich ed è quindi un’ora indietro rispetto all’Italia . Da marzo a fine ottobre vige l’ora legale.

La moneta ufficiale dell’Irlanda è l’ Euro .

Per chiamare dall’Italia in Irlanda, digitare il prefisso internazionale 00353 seguito dal prefisso nazionale senza lo 0 iniziale e dal numero dell’abbonato.

Per l’ingresso nel Paese sono necessari il passaporto oppure la  carta d’identità valida per l’espatrio . Ricordiamo che si deve viaggiare con uno dei due documenti in corso di validità.

Sul grande schermo è interessante il film “ Il vento che accarezza l’erba ” di Ken Loach, che narra di due fratelli della County Cork divisi dalla guerra civile, e “ Michael Collins “ ,  storia di uno dei fautori dell’indipendenza irlandese.

In libreria, oltre alle numerose guide sull’Irlanda, segnaliamo “Gente di Dublino” dove sono raccolte storie di vita quotidiana e “ Paddy Clarke ha ha ha “, storia e avventure di un bambino di 10 anni.

Il pasto tipico irlandese prevede la carne ma anche il pesce ormai è sempre più spesso presente a tavola, soprattutto nelle regioni occidentali. Tra le specialità più gustose segnaliamo i piatti a base di patate come il colcannon e il champ .

Uno dei prodotti più tipici del Paese è il pane, il Soda Bread , con la presenza di bicarbonato di sodio in quanto la farina irlandese è troppo soffice perché si possa usare il lievito.

La Guinness è forse la birra di malto più famosa di tutto il mondo, ma esistono altri stabilimenti di stout a Cork: Murphy’s e Beamish & Crawford!

Informazioni utili su Israele

I periodi migliori per un viaggio qui, con temperature miti, sono la primavera (aprile/maggio) e l’autunno (settembre/ottobre) . L’inverno può essere freddo e mentre nel sud di Israele può fare molto caldo nei mesi estivi. Prestare particolare attenzione ai viaggi durante le principali festività ebraiche (molti pellegrini presenti, prezzi alti e spostamenti difficoltosi).

L’ora in Israele è +1 rispetto  all’Italia.

La moneta utilizzata in Israele è lo Shekel . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 4,10 Shekel.

Per contattare Israele dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 00972 .

Per l’ingresso in Israele è necessario il passaporto con validità di almeno sei mesi dalla data di ingresso. Il visto non è richiesto per i turisti che rimangono nel Paese per massimo 90 giorni.

Tra i film, da vedere “ Il figlio dell’Altra “, del 2012, nel quale Joseph scopre di non essere il figlio biologico dei suoi genitori, poiché appena nato è stato scambiato per errore con Yacine, palestinese dei territori occupati della Cisgiordania.

In libreria, “ Una via di pace. In viaggio tra Israele e Palestina “, tappa dopo tappa, ci porta a scoprire i paesaggi, i cibi, i profumi, la storia antica e recente, i volti e le abitudini di una terra difficile ma bellissima.

• felafel , ottimo mix di ceci e/o fave e spezie che si può trovare a ogni angolo di strada a prezzi economici;
• hummus , salsa a base di pasta di ceci tritati con Tehina (salsa a base di sesamo), limone, olio d’oliva, sale e aglio;
• shwarma , cibo di strada popolare in Israele composto da fettine di carne di tacchino, pollo o agnello (simile al kebab turco);
• jachnun , piatto tradizionale yemenita servito solitamente durante lo Shabbat (Pasta arrotolata con margarina, che viene cotta durante la notte per circa 10-12 ore);
• shakshouka , miscuglio di pomodori, cipolle, aglio e spezie (una salsa) servito con un uovo in camicia.

Informazioni utili sulla Colombia

La stagione secca va da dicembre a marzo ed è la migliore per organizzare un viaggio nel Paese . Per il resto bisogna sapersi adattare ai cambiamenti tra le varie regioni: clima tropicale e umido in Amazzonia, freddo sulle montagne, semi-desertico nella regione a nord ovest del Paese confinante con il Venezuela.

L’orario in Colombia è -6 rispetto  all’Italia, -7 quando in Italia vige l’ora legale .

La moneta utilizzata in Colombia è il  Peso Colombiano . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 3.5 Pesos.

Per contattare la Turchia dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0057.

L’ingresso in Colombia per motivi turistici è necessario il passaporto con data di scadenza non inferiore ai tre mesi dalla data di entrata nel Paese. Necessario il biglietto aereo di ritorno (viene richiesto dalle compagnie aeree al momento della partenza dall’Italia).

Come informazioni utili sulla Colombia, è bene documentarsi su film e libri da guardare e leggere prima di partire.

Tra i film, “ Apaporis “, film-documentario del 2010 sulla vita nella regione amazonica, e “ All’inseguimento della pietra verde “, film avventura con Michael Douglas.

In libreria, per conoscere la cultura colombiana non passa inosservato “ Cent’anni di solitudine “, capolavoro di Gabriel Garcìa Màrquez.

Altre informazioni utili sulla Colombia riguardano il cibo, da provare:

• la “ bandeja paisa ”, originaria di Medellín: riso, fagioli, salsicce, manzo, uova, pancetta, banana, avocado fresco e ispa;
• la “ lechona ”, carne di maiale e manzo con riso;
• il “ sancocho ” e l’“ ajiaco ”, zuppe tradizionali con brodo con patate, verdure e spezie (anche con la variante di pesce);
• il caffè , la bevanda più consumata! Gli ambulanti che trovate per strada potranno offrirvi un bicchiere di tinto (caffè nero), di pintado (macchiato) o con leche (caffellatte).

Informazioni utili sugli Emirati Arabi

Il clima di Dubai è subtropicale desertico, con inverni miti ed estati molto calde (con un alto tasso di umidità). Il periodo migliore per visitare Dubai e gli Emirati va da dicembre ad aprile, quando il caldo lascia spazio a temperature miti . I mesi migliori per godere del sole e del mare, invece, vanno invece da maggio a novembre, quando fa caldo e anche l’acqua del mare permette piacevoli e lunghi bagni.

L’ora a Dubai e negli Emirati è +3 rispetto all’Italia e +2 quando in Italia vige l’ora legale.

La moneta utilizzata negli Emirati Arabi è il  Dirham . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 4,15 Dirham.

Per contattare la Turchia dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 00971.

Per l’ingresso negli Emirati è necessario il passaporto con validità residua di almeno sei mesi al momento dell’ingresso nel Paese.

Vige l’esenzione dal visto EAU per corto soggiorno (sino a 90 giorni ogni 180) a favore dei cittadini UE.

Tra i film che mostrano alcuni luoghi degli Emirati troviamo “ Mission: Impossible – Protocollo Fantasma” , con Tom Cruise, e “ Star Wars ” (il deserto del film è il Rub’ al-Khali, il Quarto Vuoto)

In libreria, oltre alle guide turistiche, potrebbe suscitare interesse “ La costruzione del Medio Oriente ” di Bernard Lewis, il quale tratta in maniera approfondita l’evoluzione storica di questa parte di mondo, e il più veloce “ I love Dubai “ , di Federica Marchese, dove si raccontano i mille contrasti della città di Dubai.

• Balalit : vermicelli con sciroppo di zucchero, acqua di rose, zafferano e cipolle saltate servito solitamente per la colazione;
• Haris , spesso definito “piatto nazionale” e simile alla polenta (frumento macinato cotto con l’agnello);
• Makbus , riso con carne e spezie (o con pesce) condito con noci, uvetta e cipolle fritte;
• Madruba , pesce sotto sale (o pollo) cotto con farina di frumento fino a ridurlo in crema.

Informazioni utili sul Giappone

QUANDO ANDARE

Il periodo migliore per un viaggio in Giappone è durante l’inizio della primavera o nel tardo autunno (precipitazioni non abbondanti e temperature più accettabili rispetto a quelle rigide invernali o quelle calde e umide estive).

La primavera e l’autunno sono periodi interessanti anche per due “fenomeni” naturali: l’ hanami (fioritura dei ciliegi in primavera) e il foliage  (in autunno).

In Giappone ci sono 8 ore in più rispetto all’Italia, 7 quando in Italia vige l’ora legale.

La moneta utilizzata in Giappone è lo  Yen . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 125,15 Yen.

Per contattare il Giappone dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0081 + il prefisso della città senza lo zero .

Per l’ingresso in Giappone è necessario il passaporto in corso di validità e il biglietto aereo di ritorno.

Visto non obbligatorio per soggiorni di turismo inferiori a 90 giorni.

Come informazioni utili sul Giappone, è bene documentarsi su film e libri da guardare e leggere prima di partire.

Tra i film, non può mancare “ Memorie di una geisha “, con scenografie e costumi che rappresentano realmente quello che si può incontrare nel Paese, e l’animazione di pellicole come “ La città incantata ” del genio di Miyazaki e “ Your Name ” di Makoto Shinkai.

In libreria, per conoscere una cultura particolare come quella giapponese, vale la pena leggere “ Autostop con Buddha “, un viaggio in autostop seguendo il flusso, da sud verso nord, della fioritura del ciliegi. Per una guida approfondita c’è anche “ Tokyo insolita e segreta ” di Pierre Mustière.

Altre informazioni utili sul Giappone riguardano il cibo, da provare:

• sushi (polpettine di riso con pesce, molluschi o verdure preparati in molti modi) e sashimi (pesce crudo senza riso);
• okonomiyaki , una specie di frittata dove si può aggiungere di tutto;
• ramen , un tipico piatto giapponese (di origine cinese) a base di tagliatelle di frumento servite con brodo di carne e/o pesce;
• tempura , una frittura solitamente preparata con gamberi e verdure (come zucchine e zucca) immersi in una pastella e poi fritti.

Informazioni utili sul Myanmar

Il periodo migliore per visitare il Paese va da novembre a febbraio, quando le precipitazioni sono ridotte e il caldo è non è impegnativo .

In Myanmar ci sono 5 ore e mezza in più rispetto all’Italia; 4 e mezza quando in Italia vige l’ora legale.

La moneta utilizzata in Myanmar è il Kyat . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 1.706,80 Kyat.

Per contattare il Myanmar dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0095.

Necessario il passaporto con validità residua di almeno 6 mesi dal momento dell’entrata in Myanmar. Necessario anche il visto, da richiedere all’Ambasciata della Repubblica dell’Unione del Myanmar a Roma.

Come informazioni utili sul Myanmar, è bene documentarsi su film e libri da guardare e leggere prima di partire.

Tra i film ci sono  “The Lady” , di Luc Besson, che racconta la vita della leader Aung San Suu Kyi, e “ Oltre Rangoon “, un affresco epico tratto da una storia vera.

In libreria, per conoscere la cultura birmana, si possono leggere “ Giorni in Birmania ” di George Orwell ,  e “ La Valle dei Rubini ” di Joseph Kessel, un’avventura da leggere fino alla fine!

La cucina birmana è influenzata molto dalle cucine indiana, cinese e thailandese : l’ingrediente principale è il riso, anche se noodles e pane si trovano ovunque!

La cucina birmana utilizza inoltre gamberi, pesce, maiale, curry, masala e i peperoncini rossi. Il Mohinga , considerato piatto nazionale, è un brodo di pesce gatto al curry con farina di ceci, vermicelli di riso e salsa di pesce.

Informazioni utili sull’Oman

Da metà di ottobre a metà marzo è il periodo migliore per visitare il sultanato , mentre nel sud, da giugno a settembre, c’è la stagione dei monsoni.

Per recarsi nel paese, non a livello climatico, si deve tenere presente inoltre il periodo del Ramadan e il compleanno del Profeta.

In Oman ci sono 3 ore in più rispetto all’Italia; 2 quando in Italia è in vigore l’ora legale.

La moneta utilizzata in Oman è il  Rial omanita . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 0,43 Rial.

Per contattare la Turchia dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 00968.

Per l’ingresso in Oman è necessario il passaporto con validità residua di almeno sei mesi al momento dell’arrivo nel Paese.

Dal 21 marzo 2018 è obbligatorio effettuare la richiesta di visto prima dell’ingresso nel Paese tramite il sito: https://evisa.rop.gov.om/en/home

• datteri , alimento base della cucina omanita;
• shawerma , versione omanita del kebab turco, è costituito da carne di pollo o manzo arrostita alla spiedo e avvolta nel pane (o semplicemente distesa su di esso);
• kahwa , il caffè omanita è molto forte, leggermente amaro e aromatizzato;
• halwa , il classico dolce della cucina locale preparato con semola, zucchero, acqua di rose, burro indiano, il tutto aromatizzato con cardamomo e mandorle.

Informazioni utili sulla Germania

Il clima tedesco è variabile e quindi in qualunque periodo dell’anno il consiglio è quello di essere equipaggiati per qualsiasi condizione atmosferica. Generalmente, però, il periodo migliore per visitare il paese è quello compreso tra maggio e ottobre  (alta stagione turistica).

Tuttavia, nelle stagioni intermedie (inizio primavera e tardo autunno) ci sono meno turisti e il tempo può essere piacevole!

In Germania non c’è differenza oraria con l’Italia.

La moneta utilizzata in Germania è l’Euro.

Per contattare la Germania dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0049.

Per l’ingresso in Germania sono sufficienti passaporto o carta d’identità in corso di validità.

Come informazioni utili sulla Germania, è bene documentarsi su film e libri da guardare e leggere prima di partire.

Tra i film, non può mancare “ Goodbye Lenin “, una delle pellicole più amate del cinema tedesco, e “ Le vite degli altri “, che racconta la tensione nella Berlino della DDR.

In libreria, per conoscere la cultura tedesca citiamo “ Piccolo viaggio nell’anima tedesca “, un invito a capire gli altri per capire se stessi fuori dai luoghi comuni, e “ Il cielo diviso ” di Christa Wolf, uno spaccato di storia recente sul muro di Berlino.

Altre informazioni utili sulla Germania riguardano il cibo, da provare:

• gli spätzle , un tipo di pasta all’uovo tipico nella Germania del sud;
• il leberkäse , un salume tipico della zona bavarese;
• il pane nero , ottenuto con farina di segale, farro integrale e farina bianca;
• la bienenstich , torta composta da un impasto soffice, crema e caramello alle mandorle.

Informazioni utili sull’India

Il clima in India è così diversificato da regione a regione che è impossibile scegliere un periodo migliore di altri per il viaggio. Generalmente e in buona parte del paese i mesi più adatti sono quelli che vanno da ottobre a marzo .

Nell’estremo sud (causa monsoni) il periodo tendenzialmente migliore va da gennaio a settembre; per il Sikkim e per l’India nordorientale marzo-agosto è il periodo migliore; nel Kashmir e nelle regioni montagnose dell’Himachal Pradesh è meglio recarsi tra maggio e settembre; i deserti del Rajasthan e la regione himalayana nordoccidentale sono meglio percorribili nella stagione dei monsoni.

In India l’ora è avanti di 4,30 ore rispetto all’Italia (3,30 quando in Italia vige l’ora legale).

La moneta utilizzata in India è la  Rupia . Attualmente un euro equivale a circa 78,2 Rupie.

Per contattare l’India dall’Italia è necessario anteporre al numero di telefono il prefisso 0091.

Per l’ingresso in India è necessario il passaporto con validità residua di almeno sei mesi al momento dell’arrivo.

Necessario il visto per soggiorni di breve periodo (massimo 60 giorni) per turismo, affari e cure mediche. I viaggiatori possono avvalersi dell’eVisa.

Come informazioni utili sull’India è bene documentarsi su film e libri da guardare e leggere prima di partire.

Tra i film, non può mancare “ Gandhi ” un classico del 1982 sul personaggio più emblematico dell’India (di Richard Attenborough).

In libreria “ La tigre bianca “, un romanzo premiato sulle lotte di classe nell’India globalizzata, del 2008, e “ I figli della mezzanotte ” del 1981, sul tema dell’indipendenza.

Altre informazioni utili sull’India riguardano il cibo. Il numero di vegetariani che si conta in India è superiore quello del resto del mondo; nonostante questo, la cucina indiana offre un’ampia scelta di piatti a base di carne, pollo, agnello e montone . La religione proibisce infatti agli Indù di mangiare carne bovina e ai musulmani quella suina.

Gli alimenti della cucina indiana variano molto dal nord al sud del paese ma vi è un piatto che mette tutti d’accordo: il dalh, un curry denso di lenticchie o altri legumi (fino a 60 diversi legumi).

Il riso è l’alimento fondamentale in tutta l’India, soprattutto al sud, che viene servito caldo praticamente con ogni piatto in umido.

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Canada Tour Companies

Looking for an unforgettable Canada tour? Book a fully-organized trip with the best tour companies in Canada and let the tour operator take care of everything for you. Check out the tour details and read 177132 reviews from our customers to help you choose the perfect tour for you.

List of Canada travel companies & tour operators with 177132 reviews

Atlantic Tours & Travel

• Excellent - 26 reviews for Canada tours

The wonders of the Bay of Fundy tour was the best tour I’ve ever been on. We were a small group who enjoyed each other’s company and shared many varied and interesting experiences. As a solo traveler I was welcomed by everyone in the group and never felt on my own. Our tour director, Eunice, was welcoming, knowledgeable and went the extra mile to ensure we really experienced the local culture and delicacies. Our coach driver, Hank, who was also welcoming and knowledgeable, had a quietly confident manner which made you feel extremely safe when on the road. He also went the extra mile to ensure we got the most out of every experience. I would highly recommend this tour.

Very informative tour guide. Courteous driver, lovely group . We found the tour a little more difficult for us.

G Adventures

• Excellent - 19,100 reviews for Canada tours

The tour length was ideal for us, We had one day of porr weather at Whistler which curtailed us but otherwise it was very good. The hotels were all good and the camp at Golden was a nice contrast Our guide/driver (simon) was great, friendly, very helpful and professional, and went out of his way to ensure we had a great trip.

This trip was the best experience of my life so far! My CEO Melanie was so amazing, I felt so at ease and happy throughout every step of the tour. This is the perfect trip to see some of Canada. 100000/10 would recommend to everyone!

Moose Travel Network

• Excellent - 166 reviews for Canada tours

I took the 5-day Coho tour starting in Vancouver. Our tour guide Kiera was just great and has always given us with a lot of interesting information about Canada in general, our surroundings, nature and trains. In general, you could ask her anything and thus got a life coach or Canada expert! Also our group was great! We were only 7th at the beginning and became a group of 11 in Banff, due to the fact that we were the last tour for the year. Together we had fun bus rides and marveled at the beauty of Canada. I really recommend everyone to do this tour! We saw so much that otherwise would not have been possible for one independently in the short amount of time! We also did a lot of great things as a group (campfires, cooking, game night, going out) and became great friends that definitely keep in touch! Keira also always asked us about our preferences, which also allowed us to decide for ourselves what we wanted to focus on! I really loved this flexibility! My expectations of the trip were definitely exceeded and I am overjoyed to have chosen it. The hostels were also all very pleasant and clean. The Wildness Hostel was definitely a highlight, which made the experience even more special. I would gladly give it more stars as I am absolutely convinced and can recommend it to everyone!

If you're looking to see the most beautiful parts of BC and Alberta without any of the hassle and cost of organising/driving then this tour is for you. You are taken through the most stunning parts of Canada, all the while making new friends and being as daring as you please with optional activities such as bungee jumping in canyons, ziplining down mountains and kayaking on glacial lakes. Is there lots of time spent on the road? Sure! But chatting to your fellow explorers and even just looking out the windows to marvel at the jaw-dropping landscape will pass the time quickly. There are only a few days of the tour that are heavy on travel and Moose have ensured that there are pit-stops at stunning locations along the way to keep you in the adventurous spirit. Travelling by bus also gives you access to places that are not as easily seen by car; Moraine lake for example (one of the most beautiful places on the trip) was only open to busses when we arrived, the car park having filled up for the day at 6am. Hostel accommodation was the perfect medium - I wasn't keen on camping but nor did I want to shell out on a tour with hotel stays at twice the price. Most of the hostels were brand new and immaculate (HI Banff, HI Whistler, HI Jasper). It was my first time in hostels and I was pleasantly surprised. Just remember to bring your flip-flops for the showers and some earplugs to block out any snorers! Also be aware that Rampart Creek (Rustic hostel stay in the mountains for 1 night only) has no flushing toilets or running water so prepare adequately for that one! For me, most things in life are about the people you experience it with and Moose didn’t disappoint. I know it’s pot-luck who you get in your group, but I think this tour does pull in like minded people and it was a pleasure to travel with everyone on my tour. Our Guide, Bruno, was also amazing and completely made our trip. He was knowledgeable, kept things fun and was every part a one-of-the gang as the rest of us. Only other thing to note, is that if you’re looking for a hiking-centred trip then perhaps this tour might disappoint. But if you’re willing to trade in a few hikes for incredible scenery, other outdoor activities (additional costs but great fun) and meeting like minded new people, then I promise you won’t regret it.

Discover Canada Tours

• Excellent - 376 reviews for Canada tours

The staff was wonderful. The excursions were so fun. Everything is so well planned we never had to think about a thing. It is beautiful and relaxing. Food was very good.

Fabulous staff, food, activities!!!

Intrepid Travel

• Excellent - 11,705 reviews for Canada tours

Overall: Overall, the Canadian Rockies are spectacular. All of the people in our group were fun to be with, and we made some great friends. Our tour guide was knowledgeable, patient, and flexible given the physical abilities (or inabilities) of the members of the group and tried to tailor the tour to accommodate as many people in the activities as possible. My issue was with Intrepid's misrepresentation of the physical activity level rating, the inaccurate pricing of optional activities, the required travel insurance policy, the sub-par lodging, and the labeling of the trip as a Northern Lights trip when there were only 2 nights out of 10 listed in the itinerary that gave us an opportunity to see them. Lodging: The hotels were sub-par. The Metterra in Edmonton didn’t have a functioning hair dryer and the TV didn’t work (during the SuperBowl) The Holiday Inn Express in Slave Lake didn't have a functioning fireplace in the lobby, where we gathered to eat dinner. It was cold as it was adjacent to the front doors the were constantly opening and closing. The TV in the breakfast room and where we met to eat take out dinner was on a political station and the volume was loud. The person working at the front desk stated that the remote control had been stolen, so we couldn't turn it off or adjust the volume. The Lake Louise Inn had disgusting carpeting that we didn’t even want to walk on with bare feet. The Rundlestone Lodge in Banff did not have any food or drink options in the hotel and we had to walk to another hotel to get our included breakfast. The breakfast at that hotel was also sub-par. The eggs were powdered eggs. The bread, bagels, and pastries were all stale and hard. Everyone had a room where the window looked DIRECTLY into the pool area. It was noisy with kids screaming at the pool. One of the members of our group had to pay to upgrade her room, so she wouldn't have to hear the noise from the pool area until 10:30 PM. Intrepid Activity Level rating: Intrepid listed this physical activity level rating as a 2/5, which is one step above sunbathing. It said that the activities were easy and no prior physical fitness was necessary to do most of the activities. First, many of the activities were done at higher altitudes than most were accustomed to, which makes any activity more challenging. Second, walking on ice, hiking on steep mountain trails, and snowshoeing in deep snow require a much higher level of fitness than casual walking. Itinerary: The itinerary was labeled a Canadian Rockies and Northern Lights tour. There were only 2 nights listed on the itinerary (in Slave Lake) that there was even an opportunity to go out to see them. The northern lights and weather conditions are unpredictable, so it should not be listed as a “northern lights tour” unless there would be an opportunity to see them every night. The tour guide had drive time restrictions and couldn’t take us out every night to remote areas to get the chance to see the northern lights. On an Iceland tour, we had our lodging (with restaurant and bar) in remote areas with minimal light pollution, so I could set my alarm a few times throughout the night to go outside to see if the lights were visible. The quality of northern lights can change on an hourly basis and it is not reasonable to expect to stay outside in a remote area without light pollution all night to see them. All the hotels we stayed at had significant light pollution preventing us from going outside the hotel to check the quality of the northern lights. Don’t label it a northern lights tour. It was a Canadian Rockies tour. Slave Lake activities: The ice fishing listed as a possible alternate activity was never discussed. No one said the lakes were safe or not safe for fishing. It was not discussed as an option at all. Snowshoeing was also listed as an activity at this location, but was not given as an option. Jasper activities: Walking on ice in the Maligne Canyon was challenging and risky for people who aren’t physically fit. There were a few people that had to skip the grotto for fear of injuring themselves by going further. Similarly, on the drive along the Icefields Parkway, none of us were able to hike all the way to the toe of Athabasca Glacier due to the level of fitness required. Lake Louise activites: Difficulties with the level of fitness required also impacted the hike at Johnston Canyon. Some people struggled but managed to make it to the lower bridge, but many could not go further due to the fitness level needed to hike up the steep trails. Snowshoeing was offered as an option and one group member had to insist to go snowshoeing here, since the terrain was flat. Otherwise, it was also not included as an option. Banff activities: This was the snowshoe hike at Sunshine Mountain. Despite it being listed as an option twice before on the itinerary, this was the first day we went as a group. It was challenging to say the least. Half of the group were not able to participate due to the level of fitness required that was misrepresented in the tour description rating. The next day the grotto ice walk was listed, but not offered and instead we went on a hike. Optional Activities: There was a SIGNIFICANT discrepancy of the prices listed for the optional activities on the tour description and the actual prices. It seems the prices listed by Intrepid were pre-COVID prices and had never been updated. I understand if there would be a minor difference in prices, but they were 40-70% higher than Intrepid quoted. Here are examples of the activity and price per person. Dogsledding (an anticipated highlight of the trip, which we ended up not going on due to price): Intrepid price $200 CAD and actual price was $315CAD. Lake Louise Sleigh ride: Intrepid price $37CAD and actual price was $52CAD Lake Louise Ice Skating including hockey stick: Intrepid price $20CAD and actual price was $29CAD Banff Hot Springs: Intrepid price $8CAD and actual price was $17.50CAD Travel Insurance: I have the AmEx Platinum card that has very good travel insurance coverage. Intrepid forced me to buy a separate policy stating that I needed a “policy number” and not just claims made coverage that my credit card supplies. I had to pay an extra $174USD to get travel insurance when my credit card already covers travel insurance. Then I found that one of the guests in our group used her credit card policy and did not require a separate travel insurance policy to go on this trip. That was infuriating! White Mountain Adventures: White Mountain Adventures was coordinating this trip and I felt they were at a disadvantage to plan a trip when the Intrepid itinerary and physical activity level was misrepresented prior to the trip. Scott, our tour guide, was very kind, knowledgeable, patient, accommodating, and flexible to try to meet the expectations and physical abilities of those on the tour.

the trip overall was good but a few things to be aware of: The Edmonton Sky shuttle has not been in service since 2020! You must take a taxi. The guide was surprised that we were told to schedule extras through her and by the time the trip started, much of what we wanted was already booked out. You must book the extras yourself. Neither intrepid nor tour radar does this. this was unclear in all the communications. you can't talk to a tour radar person. on line chat is fine if you are not in a hurry for answers. That aside, the guide was knowledgeable, pleasant, and worked hard to give all tour participants an extraordinary time.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tou…

• Excellent - 35 reviews for Canada tours

Accomodation was just as amazibgbut what made it special was our tour manager Cathy. She went out of her way to help, support and just be the best that she could be. Just love her and her crazy Xmas hats. ????????

• Excellent - 1,893 reviews for Canada tours

Very nice tour. Would have liked more time in a place or two but, overall, good.

Optional excursions were reasonably priced. Suggest you put together other places in each city as a walking guide or short taxi or uber ride. Example access to close by museums open late and could walk to from hotel. Free time activities and what they are and where located is helpful.tour guide can offer to accompany a group interested to explore more during free leisure tome.Provide more detail info about the logistics of site visits. Niagara falls..suggest more water proof gear clothing and shoe types etc. Terrain to expect when visiting certain sites and possible alternatives.climbing and how difficult-easy or more strenuous or advanced climbing activity. Overall, small groups so much better than filling up bus. Thank you for giving single travelers their own bus space. Would love to watch more travel videos on longer driving distances.

• Excellent - 19,645 reviews for Canada tours

The tour met all our expectations and more. Looking forward to our next experience with Cosmos.

Our tour guide was really informative and helpful. The coach driver was great too

• Excellent - 873 reviews for Canada tours

The tour guide and bus driver were kind and courteous. More tour stops needed to be included that do not require additional payment.

Was a very good tour great Tour guide & First class Driver The only down for the tour was being let down by Costsaver by being put in sub below Hotel for 2 nights in Canmore when we all thought we would have been in Banff They obviously did not inspect rooms no heating working dusty smelly rooms toilets not flushing dirty sheets even with blood on them an absolute disgrace for the money we paid for this trip Was so disappointing as rest off accomodation was above our expectations

Calgary Tours

• Good - 40 reviews for Canada tours

Great experience and great guides like Allan and David.

The navigation of trip using Tourradar was easy and helpful. The Calgary Tours arrangement of the bus trip along with accommodations was comfortable. Only wished that there could have been a better representation of diversity in the tourists-- limited or total absence of Europeans, Americans and Canadians. The bus #532 of Calgary Tours was used throughout the trip. The driver Mr. Gary is a great driver and human being with excellent companionship. He and the guide Mr. Jesse were friendly and made the trip worthwhile. They managed the trip professionally to everyone's liking. Kudos to the two---keep it up. However, on visiting the Calgary Tours website directly I noticed their charges for the 5day tour was cheaper and quoted and charged in Canadian dollars. Hope, I had seen it before finalizing with you. Besides higher expenses we have no regrets. Thank you.

West Trek Tours Inc.

• Excellent - 98 reviews for Canada tours

Our tour guides are awesome

Excellent tour Chris was a great tour guide and had lots of information. Yee the driver was very helpful and I would recommend the tour there was so much to see but rushed at time and would have liked to spend more time in Banff. Robert Hanna

• Excellent - 74,885 reviews for Canada tours

It was an excellent trip!

The technology needed was hard for us.The guest help place was the best. All was good and the captain kept us safe. Thanks.

Fresh Adventures

• Excellent - 82 reviews for Canada tours

Great trip Fresh Adventures! Well organized tour, wonderful resorts with powder skiing, nice breakfast, lunch and dinner venues. Nice accommodation. Fantastic guides both on and off the mountain. They knew the best places to ski and enjoy. I really enjoyed skiing together, dining together and hot pools as a group. Thanks Sam and Laurence!

My lifelong dream to come to the Yukon and it was everything I hoped for and more! High five to the Fresh Adventures crew for putting together an epic adventure I won't soon forget. The hikes were tough but absolutely worth it and the views from the top were unreal. I've been on a trip with Fresh Adventures in the Rockies before and was happy to see that they offered a Yukon trip as well. The guides, Carl and Alex were fun to be around and the rest of the group was amazing. Loved all the good times and the laughs in the van. Thanks for a great trip!

• Good - 14 reviews for Canada tours

My mistake probably. I thought this was a tour as it is expensive. It is only expensive because the hotels are very expensive. Brewters company gives a bit of guidance but Sundog is just a transfer company (take you from one paoint to another). So the agency books hotels and transfer that is it. Can do it yourself for cheaper. There are no groups, no guide and two of my drop off and pick up were at the wrong hotels. You also need to call so have a canadian number each day to call transfer company to confirm your pick up so be ready to spend money on a canadian sim card. Tour or agencies would be better as they actually ask what you really want and as for me a cheaper hotel would have been better and easier as hotels booked where out of town and without a car it is not always easy to go around. Real disappointment as this is sold as a tour with many lookout point but it is just wikipedia recommendations. I use Intrepid or Gadventures which provides tour where you meet people and what you pay is really what you have definitelly stick to what I know. What needs an improvement is the way to describe it you cannot say it is a tour when it is not and if you get people asking for it maybe ask what they are really looking for like a tour operator. if you are looking at this tour you can just book 2 nights in each town in nice hotels there are plenty and brewster transfer and this will not take you much time. If you need an agency call a tour operator which will hopefully ask your needs what you want in terms of accomodation, budget, activities to tailored it and this is worth the extra charge. If thy dont do it yourself you save some money.

Every employee we met from pick up @ the airport to drop off after our final trip to the Aurora Center was wonderful - Professional, pleasant, and friendly. Price was right! Hotel was OK. My one important critique was we got absolutely no info on the Aurora Borealis. I expected a video or “lecture” or some explanation about what we were looking for/seeing. (And, so so so very happy we saw them!!!) This was a trip specifically to see the northern lights and we heard nothing about them. I will (and have steady) recommend your tour to others but tell them to study up on the Aurora before they go. Thanks for asking!

• Excellent - 5,452 reviews for Canada tours

One of the best trips of my life! Still thinking about it months later

It’s the best way to see the mountains, hit the slopes and see all the magic and beauty of Whistler and Banff

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